The 2001 Tony Awards show is starting to take shape, with several presenters now officially announced for the June 3 event at Radio City Music Hall. Lily Tomlin, who just finished a Tony-nominated revival run of The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe, will be among the stars presenting that night, as will The Heidi Chronicles' Joan Allen and Sunset Boulevard Tony winner Glenn Close.

The 2001 Tony Awards show is starting to take shape, with several presenters now officially announced for the June 3 event at Radio City Music Hall. Lily Tomlin, who just finished a Tony-nominated revival run of The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the Universe, will be among the stars presenting that night, as will The Heidi Chronicles' Joan Allen and Sunset Boulevard Tony winner Glenn Close.

Tony nominations for the 2000-01 Broadway season were announced 8:30 AM May 7 at Sardi's restaurant by Reba McEntire and Eric McCormack. The 55th annual Tony ceremony will be televised live on PBS (8-9 PM) and CBS (9-11 PM). The annual Tony Brunch for nominees was held at the Marriott Marquis, May 16.

Coming closest to The Producers in nominations is The Full Monty, which earned nods in 10 divisions, including best musical, score, for David Yazbek, and direction, for Jack O'Brien. O'Brien was also cited for his work on The Invention of Love. The double nomination is an echo of last year's two-fold recognition of director Michael Blakemore, who was nominated for both Kiss Me, Kate and Copenhagen (he won both awards). The best musical category was rounded out by A Class Act and Jane Eyre. The latter did surprisingly well, claiming entries in five areas. Best play nominees also included Proof, King Hedley II and The Tale of the Allergist's Wife. Thus, all three of the Broadway shows to transfer from the Off-Broadway nonprofit, Manhattan Theatre Club - Proof, Allergist's Wife, A Class Act - were nominated for best play or musical.

Both actors from the British Stones in His Pockets were nominated for best actor in a play, as was the entire four-person cast of Proof, including Mary-Louise Parker. Surprise nods included Jean Smart, for the Roundabout Theatre Company's revival of The Man Who Came to Dinner and Mary Testa for 42nd Street.

Shows that came away without any nominations include George Gershwin Alone and The Gathering, while The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, Bells Are Ringing, Judgment at Nuremberg and One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest won only two nods apiece.

The Producers would appear to have most of the categories in which it is competing sewn up (though Lane will have to duke it out with Broderick for best actor in a musical, while best featured actor will be between Beach, Bart and Oscar). That leaves best leading actress in a musical, the only area where The Producers doesn't boast an entry, as the only horse race among the musical divisions. The five nominees are Randy Graff for A Class Act; Christine Ebersole for 42nd Street; Faith Prince for Bells Are Ringing; Marla Schaffel for Jane Eyre; and Blythe Danner for Follies. All five actresses arguably have a chance.

The category of Special Theatrical Event, created last year in the wake of the Contact controversy, will be presented to Blast!. And the Tony Award for regional theatre will go to Chicago's Victory Gardens, founded in 1974. Also, a special Tony will go to musical director Paul Gemignani, while Tonys for excellence in theatre will go to Betty Corwin and the Theatre on Film and Tape Archive at the New York Public Library; New Dramatists; and Theatre World.

Here are the 1999-2000 Tony Award nominees:

BEST PLAY:ProofKing Hedley IIThe Invention of LoveThe Tale of the Allergist's Wife

BEST REVIVAL OF A PLAY:The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in the UniverseBetrayalOne Flew Over the Cuckoo's NestThe Best Man

BEST PERFORMANCE BY A LEADING ACTOR IN A PLAY:Richard Easton, The Invention of LoveBrian Stokes Mitchell, King Hedley II Gary Sinise, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest Sean Campion, Stones in His Pockets Conleth Hill, Stones in His Pockets

BEST PERFORMANCE BY A LEADING ACTRESS IN A PLAY : Mary-Louise Parker, ProofLinda Lavin, The Tale of the Allergist's Wife Juliette Binoche, Betrayal Jean Smart, The Man Who Came to DinnerLeslie Uggams, King Hedley II

BEST ORIGINAL SCORE: Mel Brooks, The Producers Ed Kleban, A Class Act David Yazbek, The Full Monty Paul Gordon and John Caird, Jane Eyre

BEST PERFORMANCE BY A FEATURED ACTOR IN A PLAY : Charles Brown, King Hedley II Larry Bryggman, Proof Michael Hayden, Judgment at Nuremberg Robert Sean Leonard, The Invention of Love Ben Shenkman, Proof

BEST PERFORMANCE BY A FEATURED ACTRESS IN A PLAY: Michele Lee, The Tale of the Allergist's WifeViola Davis, King Hedley II Johanna Day, Proof Penny Fuller, The Dinner Party Marthe Keller, Judgment at Nuremberg

BEST PERFORMANCE BY A FEATURED ACTOR IN A MUSICAL : Gary Beach, The Producers Roger Bart, The Producers Andre DeShields, The Full MontyJohn Ellison Conlee, The Full Monty Brad Oscar, The Producers

BEST PERFORMANCE BY A FEATURED ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL: Cady Huffman, The Producers Polly Bergen, Follies Kate Levering, 42nd Street Mary Testa, 42nd Street Kathleen Freeman, The Full Monty